Martin Lewis has shared the one item every household needs this winter if they dry their clothes indoors. The Money Saving Expert has previously branded tumble dryers a "demon appliance" because of how much electricity they use, and claims there's a cheaper way to get your washing dry when it's too cold to hang it outside.
Why a dehumidifier beats a tumble dryer
While using a clothes horse can leave garments feeling damp and smelling musty, Martin Lewis says it's still one of the cheapest options available. However, he recommends pairing it with a dehumidifier, which works by extracting excess moisture from the air.
Not only could this help clothes dry more quickly, but it may also prove cheaper to run than a tumble dryer. According to Heatable, a tumble dryer can cost up to 61.7p per hour to run, while a 10L dehumidifier costs around 2.1p per hour.
Nevertheless, operating costs can differ depending on the model, energy efficiency and frequency of appliance usage, so it's advisable to verify the figures before making a purchase.
What homeowners say about drying laundry indoors
Taking to social media, homeowners have been discussing how they dry their garments during the winter months to prevent unwanted odours.
One user said: "Spin your clothes once or twice after wash cycle on high spin to get rid of excess water and that cuts drying time significantly."
Endorsing Lewis' recommendation, a fellow user commented: "Get a dehumidifier. They are very small, fairly quiet and very cheap to run. What they do is "inhale" all the damp air and pump out warm dry air. This dries out everything - not just washing, but the cold damp that is inside your walls. I run mine every day, (not all day, just a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening). Seriously, it'll be a game changer for you, and you'll be amazed at how much water it collects."
A third contributor said: "I've found that a fan pointing towards my regular three-tier airer and a dehumidifier work really well."
Yet another user added: "I ran my dehumidifier for six solid weeks before the damp was out of my room. The damp is in your clothes, carpet, walls and furniture. Once its out, run the dehumidifier in winter every time you dry your clothes."
